Authority, and the believer’s response to the authorities of the world, is a fascinating part of the Biblical description of the end times.
Paul explains in Romans 13:1-2, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
That instruction is clear. What is less clear to many Christians today is that prophecy and revelation warns that the coming authorities are going to try to kill believers because of their faith.
Jesus explained it in when discussing the end in Matt 24:9-10, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.”
Then in Revelation 13:2,5,7-8 Satan, the dragon, gives his authority to the antichrist, the beast. “And to it (the beast) the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
That passage from Revelation 13 reflects the Devil’s offer to Jesus while he tempted him in the wilderness in Luke 4:5-8, “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
On the night he was arrested, in John 14:30, Jesus confirmed that Satan had authority in this world, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.” Despite having no claim on Jesus, death was what Jesus faced at Satan’s coming. Jesus is our example, in life and in death, we can follow him. Revelation 6:9-11 reads, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” Most Christians know the Lord’s return won’t come until after someone from every tribe and tongue is converted, but in Revelation we read that the Lord also waits till the last believer, “their full number,” is killed for their faith. Live strong and die strong for Jesus!
Pastor John Riley